Struggling to Find Enthusiasm in Your Job? How Can You Stay Motivated?
Are you having a hard time showing enthusiasm for a job you don’t like?
#JobStruggles #Motivation #StayPositive #CareerAdvice
Unemployed for Months, But Not Feeling Your Job?
## Prioritizing Family Over Personal Satisfaction
If you were unemployed for months and now have a job that you’re not feeling, you’re not alone. It can be challenging to show enthusiasm for a job that doesn’t resonate with you personally. However, prioritizing your family’s well-being and financial stability can be a strong motivator to keep pushing forward.
## Finding Optimism Despite Challenges
You mentioned that you’re trying to stay optimistic but are finding it difficult. It’s important to remember that it’s okay to have moments of struggle and doubt. However, finding small things to be grateful for, setting realistic goals, and seeking support from loved ones can help you maintain a positive mindset even in challenging circumstances.
## Exploring Other Opportunities
If you find that you’re consistently unhappy in your current job, it may be worth exploring other opportunities that align more closely with your interests and values. Networking, updating your resume and LinkedIn profile, and seeking out new job postings can help you take proactive steps toward finding a more fulfilling career path.
## Taking Care of Your Well-Being
Remember to prioritize self-care and mental health during this time of transition. Engaging in activities that bring you joy, seeking support from a therapist or counselor, and practicing mindfulness can all help you navigate the challenges of feeling less than enthusiastic about your job.
Stay motivated, stay positive, and remember that your well-being matters. You deserve to find fulfillment and joy in your work, even if it takes time and effort to get there.
This largely depends on your attitude, be mindful of negative feelings and stop those. If you cant’ get OUT of it, get INTO it. Make the best of your job and be grateful you have one.
You don’t have to like your job. Just go there, do your work, and do a good job. At the end of the day, it’s a paycheck.
Also, doesn’t hurt to keep applying.
Trying to fake enthusiasm (not exclusively) is definitely a tactic I use when my job gets to a grindy point. You fake a positive outlook, but you’d be surprised on the positive affect it has on you! It’s not fun to go through each day complaining, dwelling on the negatives, feeling down and sorry for yourself. Keep a positive outlook and you’ll body will start to believe it.
Plus, other people notice too. You can see who just straight up doesn’t want to be in the office, and it’s a drag. People will be drawn to the more upbeat, smiling people instead.
Fake it until you yourself believe it!
I hear you, this is my struggle as well.
Try to embrace the challenge. Currently my focus at work is to calm and control my mind when I’m bored because being in your own head 8+hrs is no good.
Also, being good at being bored is a skill.
Also, also, if you believe in a balanced life then ~50% of the time you should be doing something you don’t want to do. This helps me get through shit like you wouldn’t believe.
Like if you binge drugs for a week, it’ll be fun, but how are you going to feel the week after? Bills? Food? Relationships?…I personally feel the universe will correct for balance whether or not you’re on board so it’s better to go with the flow.
The way of water and taoism are interesting philosophies
Possible yes, but healthy, depends. If it becomes such a state that it’s fake enthusiasm that really is draining your personal life i would look for other options without telling the current job. Go there, be friendly etc and do bare minimum required.
As long as you’re polite and do the job well I don’t think most employers care about your enthusiasm.
If you have to be there because you need the money why not do it with enthusiasm and do a good job?
You’re there either way, might as well make the best of it.
Fake it till you make it.
Its a legitimate strategy to mentally trick yourself into happiness.
Same boat. Thankfully, I like my co-workers. I create projects for myself when I can and make sure all my assigned work is on time and complete. Otherwise I’m trying to focus my energy on life outside of work. Coming from a much more demanding job, that is a skill on its own. I know I won’t be here forever, just 2-3 years. Find a task you like and try to find ways to expand on that.
Side note: how did I have so much going on in college outside of school?! I’m not that old! Why is it so much harder now??
It’s natural for everyone to be in a rut some time or another. If you hate your job but are in it solely to provide for your family then one of the ways you can cultivate interest is by carefully considering if there are any aspects of your job you can slow down and learn more about. An example:
You make a lot of reports: Learn more about effective report making. Where you consider your audience first, keep the report brief etc. In my experience, better report making equates to more career eyeballs (who in management wants to see a jumble of slides with no direction?)
You did not say what job you are in therefore I gave you a cookie cutter example. You should apply this to aspects of your job you think you could learn more about.
Welcome to having a job for 99% of people
Im sure it says in your job description to come to work with a positive attitude and smile. Obviously being happy youre getting paid minimum wage with close to 0 benefits makes you unethusiastic.
Yes!!
In college, I was working a job I hated for 5 straight years bc it was making it possible for me to pay tuition.
What I did might seem a little weird but it really worked.
In the privacy of home in a room on my own, I’d make space for these emotions that really didn’t want to fucking go to work. I basically was like a toddler and threw a temper tantrum. Stomping, crying, whining, flailing myself around on the floor, etc
I would do this until it felt like it ran its course (which was always shorter than I’d expect)
Then I would stop, sit down and just be really still. I’d meditate in silence for about 5 minutes.
Then I’d get up and go to a mirror and basically give myself a pep talk. I told myself this job was just one stop on my journey. I told myself all of the things this job allows me to do. I told myself bigger and better things would be next.
Then I’d get ready and I’d put extra effort into having FUN with how I’d fix my hair & makeup. It was a restaurant job & I had to wear my hair up & be in a uniform
Every time I did this, I made more money in tips than the day I didn’t. My energy was that of someone that was so present and just grateful to be alive in her own body no matter where she was.
I’m in the same situation. What I’ve been thinking about it:
Lying to yourself will backfire. It’s important to acknowledge how you feel.
Definitely try to complain to non-coworkers rather than coworkers. Keeping potential toxicity in check is important.
However, don’t lose hope that the position will become better. Communicate concerns to management if you think they’ll listen, also communicate potential solutions. At the same time, keep looking for other jobs if you have the time and energy.
It’s important to find tangible and real reasons for hope and optimism. Whether it’s a sympathetic boss, a potential promotion, or interviewing with another company, just the idea that it can get better will keep you going.
It can be demoralizing, for sure. I go back and forth between hope and despair. It’s more exhausting than if I was pouring everything I had into an 80-hour a week job that I loved. But finding reasons for hope, for yourself and your future career, is just as important as motivations to provide for family members. Also, diversifying your identity with hobbies can maintain some positivity when your career is going backwards. Anyhoo, much love and I hope we both find something better.
I’d keep looking, that’s not a good fit and when you place so much expectation on yourself for family, you may end up falling into addiction because of that pressure. If this place is seriously draining you, and you feel it’s just a dead end job, there’s plenty of others out there that you may enjoy and you might as well leave then stay miserable.
A dead end job isn’t a bad thing IF it’s something you love doing or at least like the brand/company you work for. That also is an enthusiasm builder, working in the right environment for you. I know for sure I won’t be working in food again, call center, or trying to sell hardware or sports equipment. I’d absolutely hate my job too lol.
Being unemployed for months would probably put me on a low mood as well. Showing enthusiasm for something you don’t like usually indicates an unhealthy behaviour. In your position, I’d prob try to show some gratitude to the company that hired me, but it doesn’t have to be through entusiasm. The fact you didn’t leave the moment you felt that way is already a proof that you appreciate them for hiring you. But what do you want with that by the way?
Fake it. It’s just a means to an end.
Just gotta keep grinding
If you were unemployed for a while ur use to doing whatever u want.
Is… is this your first job? Have you not been doing that for EVERY OTHER JOB you’ve had?
Al Pacino said it best in The Recruit:
“There’s this parish priest, goes up to the Pope, drops down on his knees, starts weeping… asking forgiveness. “Holy father, holy father, what am I to do? What am I to do? I do not believe in God anymore. What am i to do?” And you know what the pope said… “Fake it.”
Your job isn’t your life. It’s a means to make money. If you’re feeling depressed because of your job, it’s probably because you’re making it your life.
You need to find other avenues to raise your quality of life. A new hobby, better entertainment, unique experiences. Something to look forward to after you clock out. Otherwise, you’re only framework for the outside world is just your job. And that’s depressing in and of itself.
No, if you don’t like something and try to force it people will know.
Fake it till you make it!
Do you have hobbies? To you like going to places or treating yourself or the people you love? Do you have financial goals that you want to eventually reach?
If you answer yes to any of these questions plus you’re healthy and are willing and able to work. Be happy you have a job and you can provide.
Yes it’s very possible
Why?
Most people drastically overestimate the level of work expected by their employer. Not enthusiastic? You’re likely exceeding every goal by showing up, completing some tasks correctly and not being an absolute shit to everyone around you.
Just show up everyday and don’t get on anyone’s bad side, then go home.
Also try not to fall into the habit of distracting yourself/not focusing on work only to complain that work is boring and you don’t give a damn. If it’s legitimately boring and there’s nothing to do that’s one thing, but if you show up every morning and just fuck around on your phone then that won’t help your outlook or make you feel productive.
Act like you are the best at what you are doing and aim to be the best so that you become irreplaceable. It will change your mindset on work and if you can’t do that, do your best and be the best at your other future jobs.
“Discipline is doing the things you hate as if you love them.” Iron Mike TysonÂ
In my opinion, I think my generations biggest down fall is that they feel like they have to love their job. Working is a means to an end and it gives you the opportunity to live and love life outside of work